Systems for enhancing funding of gaming

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating the funding of gaming. Relative to a gaming table, a player may provide a commercial bank card to access funds via a table client. A request for funds from an account associated with the bank card is transmitted to a banking network. Upon approval, a monetary value voucher is generated, such as by a casino voucher system, and is printed and provided to the player at the gaming table. The player may redeem the voucher for funds, such as monetary value gaming chips for wagering at the gaming table.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation of U.S. Application Serial No.17/153,748, filed Jan. 20, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S.Application Serial No. 16/700,949, filed Dec. 2, 2019, now U.S. PatentNo. 11,557,173, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application SerialNo. 15/977,301, filed May 11, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,537,128, whichis a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 14/673,335, filedMar. 30, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,972,168, which is a divisional ofU.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 11/991,814, filed Mar. 10, 2008, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,992,305, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat.Application Serial No. 10/953,032, filed Sep. 29, 2004, now abandoned,and is a National Stage Entry of PCT/US06/35250, filed Sep. 11, 2006,which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application Serial No.60/716,233, filed Sep. 12, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Pat. ApplicationSerial No. 60/716,808, filed Sep. 14, 2005. Each of these priorapplications is incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to improved method and apparatus for cashlessgaming and more particularly to improved methods and apparatus forfunding and facilitating gaming, including using stand-alone kiosks andat gaming tables. Preferably the kiosks issue vouchers, slot vouchers,or a like indicia of gaming credit where “slot vouchers (which term canbroadly cover vouchers or tickets or other types of receipts for fundsor gaming credit indicators) in their basic use are insertable into (orreadable by or scannable by) a slot machine or gaming machine to fundgaming activity. The vouchers may be redeemable for cash, gaming creditand/or chips at gaming machines, at tables, at cages and at automatedvoucher redemption terminals. The instant invention relates in part toautomated systems (or at least partially automated systems) for voucherpurchase with a card, new or old, commercial or casino, at a stand-alonekiosk, or with funds or a card at a gaming table, as well as for theredemption of vouchers at gaming tables. The invention also relates touse of casino credit and/or new credit accounts at kiosks, auto promptsto open a new credit account at kiosks and a facilitation ofdebit/credit card cash advance transactions at kiosks. A kiosk ispreferably located proximate to but separate from particular gamingmachines, with the preferred kiosk location being at the end of a bankof gaming machines. A preferred density for kiosks on a gaming floorwould range from 1 kiosk for 20 to 100 gaming machines. A card istypically a commercial banking debit and/or credit card utilizingcommercial electronic funds transfer (EFT) systems. However, receipts,temporary cards or other indicators of information regarding casinoaccounts or new credit accounts and/or new card accounts might be used.Preferably this latter information can be, at least in part, read orscanned at the kiosk. Preferably also the invention provides for barcoded or similarly audit controlled vouchers to be printed. Theinvention also relates to gaming oriented lines of credit including apreferred gaming oriented credit card and account, and an “auto-roll”system to establish a new gaming oriented line of credit, preferablyassociated with a refusal of an EFT transaction request, likely arefusal of a request for a “credit card cash advance,” and the inventionincludes gaming patron rewarding based on EFT gaming orientedtransactions and a patron selection coded card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The gaming industry is rife with regulation and scrutiny: state,federal, and tribal. Fiscal security concerns are extraordinarily highdue to the levels of money changing hands. Moral concerns are intense.Community groups monitor regulators with an intent to enforce a sense ofsocial responsibility. Gaining is a political issue. Commercialefficiency jockeys with social responsibility for priority. Reluctanceto change paralyzes decision making.

In such a context, casino operators nonetheless have migrated towardwhat is being called “cashless gaming,” including automated “cashlessgaming,” in whole or in part. Handling cash is inefficient, timeconsuming and costly for a casino. Requiring cash is inefficient,unsanitary and to a certain extent unsafe for players, cash being theultimate bearer instrument.

An early “cashless gaming” system for slot machines taught providingequipment, integrated into each slot machine, for inserting a commercialbank card (credit or debit) in order to directly receive playing creditat the machine. Use of the card at the machine was to be a conveniencefor the player, keeping the player from having to give up his/her seatin order to secure more funds for play. This system initiallyanticipated that a player would cash out winnings and/or remainingplaying credit for cash at the machine. Subsequent proposals includedthe ability to “cash out” at a machine for in-house credit and/or forcommercial card account credit.

A second “cashless gaming” system proposed that a commercial bank(credit/debit) card be inserted into equipment associated with aparticular slot machine and that a “slot voucher” be printed at thatmachine in return. The voucher could then be read into that or any otherslot machine, as by via its bill reader, to receive playing credit. Thesecond system presumed the existence of machines that read vouchers (aswith bill readers) and that provided playing credit in return. Thesecond system anticipated cashing out at the machines in terms ofvouchers. In fact, newer slot machines can accept and/or print vouchersin lieu of, or in addition to, accepting and/or dispensing cash. Thus, avoucher may be read to yield playing credit as well as printed to redeemwinnings and/or remaining credits at a slot machine. This second systemallowed patrons to directly access commercial bank account funds at aslot machine via a POS/debit type of transaction.

Both the first and second systems entailed the existence of accounting,communication and security hardware and software integrated into themachine.

The second system also envisioned being useable for a variety ofentertainment tickets and that remote standalone kiosks might beutilized to issue vouchers or tickets.

In many jurisdictions, however, there is no regulatory approval forusing a card at a slot machine. Regulatory approval has been withheldbecause it was feared that permitting players to obtain playing creditdirectly at a gaming machine by EFT would unnecessarily encouragecompulsive gamblers, (even though there has been no documentation ofthis.)

A more common and basic form of “cashless gaming” has also existed. Thissystem provides for securing cash at ATM devices located from place toplace around a casino floor. The securing of cash may be followed by asubsequent purchase of a voucher for cash at a separate kiosk.Unfortunately, ATM machines are expensive to own and maintain. Dealingin cash as they do, they entail high security and handling costs. Only arelatively few ATM machines are justified for a casino floor. ATMmachines cost in the order of $15,000 to $17,000 each, involving all ofthe expense and security and servicing concerns associated with handlingcash. A 1,000 slot machine casino, for example, would typically onlyfind it cost effective to maintain 3 to 4 ATMs on the gaming floor. Andthe latter system still involves handling cash, with its inconvenienceand security concerns.

All of the above “cashless gaming” systems have problems. The first twosystems entail what turns out to be the excessive cost of installingPOS/EFT hardware and software on each and every gaming machine. Thishardware and software must satisfy stringent security standardsassociated with any equipment that directly interfaces with slotmachines, thereby further increasing the cost of the hardware software,and regulatory approval. And the equipment ends up being under-utilized.Most of the time it sits inactive while a player plays the game.Furthermore, promoting obtaining gaming funds from commercial cardaccounts directly at a gaming machine is viewed by some as exhibiting aninsensitivity to a casino’s social responsibility. Although it is notdocumented, it is perceived to be beneficial to interpose someinterruption in play, such as requiring a player to at least physicallyleave a machine to access funds by EFT, in order to inhibit compulsivegambling.

In regard to the latter system discussed above, however, it is perceivedas irritatingly inconvenient and inefficient, from the player’sstandpoint, to require a player to visit a few remote ATM machines,possibly standing in line. And cash must still be handled by the playerin this system, even if the player subsequently exchanges the cash for avoucher.

Further, regard to gaming tables there has been little effort toautomate or implement or streamline cashless gaming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention teaches improved systems for “cashless gaming,”improved from the above systems in terms of efficiency, cost and socialresponsibility. The equipment of the instant invention is more costeffective because (1) it minimizes dealing with cash; (2) by beingseparate from any particular gaming machine, it avoids having to meetthe high security standards set for hardware and software directlyassociated with a gaming machine; (3) by being associated with aplurality of gaming machines, it is not under-utilized; (4) by makingautomated use of casino credit accounts and/or new card accounts, itenhances versatility in funding gaming; (5) by prompting a patron toopen a new credit account, especially upon receipt of a fund requestrefusal, it enhances funding efficiency; (6) by automating, at least inpart, the issuance and redemption of vouchers at gaming tables, itenhances the efficiency of cashless gaming overall and of gaming tables,and (7) by facilitating debit/credit card cash advance transactions, itsaves time for the patron and the casino. The instant invention can beperceived as socially responsible in that players are not permitted touse a card directly at a gaming machine or slot machine for securingplaying credit. Rather, securing additional playing credit requires someinterruption of machine game play. The equipment of the instantinvention is efficient. Being sufficiently small and inexpensive, and bynot dealing in cash itself, the apparatus can be cost effectivelylocated in a plurality of locations, including proximate to banks ofgaming machines and/or at gaming tables. The instant inventionparticularly fits a need where social responsibility is still a highpriority, where regulatory changes take a long amount of time and yetwhere cost efficiency is a significant high concern.

While existing software products perform ATM/POS/debit and credit cardauthorizations on cash dispensing devices such as ATMs, one aspect ofthe instant invention includes the development of POS/debit and creditcard software that may be integrated into voucher dispensing kiosks andgaming table environments which, while subject to a reliability andaccountability standard of a casino in general, are not subject to thevery high scrutiny imposed upon software directly associated with a slotmachine. One achievement of the instant invention is the cost effectivedevelopment of POS/debit and credit and casino credit and new cardcredit account hardware and software systems that meet the appropriatehigh accountability standards of the gaming regulatory business and thatcan be implemented in standalone kiosks and gaming table environments.

While the ultimate in funds dispensing convenience for slot playersmight be an ATM/POS debit terminal that interfaces directly with aparticular gaming machine, deployment of such a product has been a slowprocess, inhibited by its inherent disadvantages, discussed above.Political and regulatory challenges have accompanied proposed“one-on-one” relationships with a gaming machine, as well as costeffective concerns. In the instant invention, a cost effective“proximity” is disclosed as more than balancing the convenience of adirect one-on-one relationship. The instant end of bank (EOB) kioskrequires a player to physically step away from a gaming machine toobtain additional funds electronically. This is a concept advocated byproblem gambling support groups. However, the distance away is notinconveniently far, and an EOB kiosk can service a greater percent ofplayers than can slot machine integrated systems since it need not standinactive while a game is being played. Flexibility is enhanced byaccommodating casino credit and new card credit accounts as well as by a30 auto-roll system to prompt the opening of such accounts which areessentially immediately useable, and further by a system to facilitatedebit/credit card cash advance transactions. Uniformity is furtherenhanced by providing commensurate equipment and methodology at gamingtables.

By accommodating casino credit and new card accounts, the instantinvention expands to incorporate reasonable and responsible gaming fundsources. By accommodating gaming tables with at least in part automatedvoucher purchase and redemption possibilities, the invention furtherexpands the advantages of cashless gaming. By at least initiating cashadvance transactions, the invention furthers efficiency.

Based on the results of a pilot program, with a voucher issuerassociated with and integrated into particular slot machines, itappeared clear that people would take advantage of the convenience ofpurchasing slot vouchers (or “debit tickets”) from a device in proximityto gaming machines. The pilot results further showed that “end-cap”locations, especially those in high traffic areas, processed the highesttransaction volumes. The implication is that slot players, thus, wereusing such end-cap slot machines with voucher purchase capability as defacto “ATM’s” during low game-occupancy periods.

The pilot results further showed that during high game-occupancy periodsthe voucher terminals were essentially “out-of-service” while games werebeing played. This indicates that such one-on-one equipment is not beingcost effectively utilized when attached to individual machines.

A “debit ticket” or voucher kiosk is viewed, thus, as one optimumsolution. Providing this service in proximity to slot machines addressesthe following challenges and concerns:

-   a) Casino operator concern about public perception (appearing    predatory);-   b) Casino operator concern about regulatory scrutiny (state level,    NIGA);-   c) Opposition from problem gambling support groups;-   d) Regulator apprehension and concern about public perception;-   e) Regulatory scrutiny because of interface to gaming machine;-   f) Dependence on game hardware and firmware, adding time and cost to    installation;-   g) Capital costs too high to install on 100% of games on most casino    floors.

EOB kiosks make further financial sense because it is not likely costeffective to install EFT equipment in particular on low denominationgames (or low occupancy multi-denomination games) given the current costof game-level hardware. Further, installation of EFT equipment onparticular slots requires access to the gaming machines to install aradio and antenna. Such installation requires access to the dropcompartment in the slot base to install the POS terminal mount and routecables to the radio. Access to these areas requires properly licensedpersonnel and the presence of a slot technician and/or security guard.This creates scheduling challenges and adds time to the installationprocess. These issues go away with the EOB Kiosk.

A gaming table oriented voucher printing and redemption system isfurther disclosed herein that can expand use of cashless gaming typevouchers from kiosks and gaming machines to gaming tables, to facilitateimplementing a cashless gaming system for table games. The instantsystem allows table gaming patrons the ability to transfer value (suchas from cash, chips, coupons, lines of credit, etc.) to a preferablycoded voucher, such as a bar coded voucher, that can be redeemed forvalue at any slot machine, table game, cage, voucher redemption kiosk,etc., which is equipped with the necessary components of the system.

System components for gaming tables would preferably include:

-   Preferably a POS Terminal — the POS terminal may be a traditional    POS device or a PC that controls attached peripherals as well as    acts as a communication device between an operator and voucher host;    A (Preferably Bar) Coded Voucher Reader — Reads a (preferably bar)    code on a voucher and POS terminal;-   (Preferably Bar) Coded Receipt Printer- Prints voucher with    (preferably bar) code and associated information in the amount of    the value to be loaded to the voucher and preferably also a receipt    for a redeemed voucher; and-   Voucher Host — Validates, issues and accounts for all issued, and    redeemed vouchers, and sends transactional data to casino management    software. (Note: a voucher receipt might comprise a cancelled    voucher.)

A voucher redemption system for table games would preferably include thesteps of:

-   1. patron presents system vouchers at gaming table;-   2. a voucher is scanned with a scanner attached to a POS terminal at    the gaming table or residing within the pit by either the dealer or    the pit personnel;-   3. scanned voucher information is communicated to a voucher host for    validation of voucher and voucher amount;-   4. voucher host validates incoming voucher information and amount    and returns information for redemption and redemption amount back to    the originating POS terminal;-   5. POS terminal displays and instructs an operator with the amounts    to redeem; and-   6. dealer gives the patron who presented the voucher a validated or    authorized amount in chips along with (optionally) a printed    receipt.

A voucher purchase system for gaming tables would preferably include thesteps of:

-   1. a patron playing at a game table who wishes to place value onto a    voucher via cash, chips, card account, line of credit, etc. presents    the dealer with cash or chips or card or readable scannable    ticket/receipt or account information for loading of value to a    voucher;-   2. dealer accepts the combination of cash and/or chips and/or EFT    funds or credit for loading of value to a voucher;-   3. dealer enters the total amount to be loaded to the voucher on the    POS terminal;-   4. POS terminal communicates the amount requested to a voucher host    and retrieves information/barcode to be printed on the voucher;-   5. printer prints the voucher; and-   6. dealer hands the voucher to the patron.

To understand a need for a gaining oriented line of credit, including inparticular a gaming oriented credit card and account, the followingdiscussion of shortfalls of existing EFT cards with respect to thegaming industry should be appreciated.

Patrons can secure “cash advances” and/or implement “quasi cashtransactions” in casinos using credit cards. (A “POS debit” cardtransaction, to be distinguished from an ATM transaction, comprises ananalogous procedure. Both POS debit card transactions and credit cardcash advance transactions may be referred to herein as credit/debit cardcash advance transactions, for convenience.)

Typically, a debit/credit card cash advance transaction utilizes anautomated kiosk and a “cage”. A cage is a⁻ station on a casino floorproviding customer service, in particular in regard to cashing in orout. At an automated kiosk a patron can request a credit/debit card cashadvance. The request is either approved or disapproved. The requestprocess usually includes running a credit or debit card (an EFT card)through what is referred to herein as an EFT (electronic funds transfer)card reader.

If approved, a patron is typically instructed to proceed to a cage.Information in regard to the credit/debit card cash advance transactionis electronically retrieved at the cage. The patron typically againpresents further identifying information along with the card swiped atthe machine. According to a mechanism typically utilized, a negotiableinstrument is printed which the patron signs over to the casino or tothe casino’s agent and for which the patron receives cash (or cashvalue) in return. (There is also a process called a PIN basedcredit/debit card cash advance which dispenses money at an automatedkiosk.)

However, “cash advance” transactions based on credit/debit cards are notfavored and are significantly limited. They are possible only up totypically low card-issuer-set limits. Since credit card accounts, inparticular, were not created with cash transactions in mind as primarytransactions, the cash transactions, in fact, and/or as a result,typically have very low cash advance limits, usually low both in termsof an amount ceiling as well as a “velocity.” (“Velocity” limits thenumber of times a card owner can request a cash advance within a giventime period, such as 24 hours.) Debit card accounts also typically haverelatively low cash advance limits, in particular when considered withregard to the size and frequency of an average gaming transaction andthe high convenience value to be placed on efficiently convertingline-of-credit funds into cash in a casino.

The cash advance limit on a credit or debit card account is typicallysignificantly lower than the line of credit, such as 10% to 25% of theline of credit. Credit card owners, in particular, rarely have a need toutilize the ability to secure “cash advances” based on their accountsoutside of casinos Thus, the low ceiling amount and/or low velocitylimit frequently is not learned until, so to speak, it is too late.Discovering a “low” cash advance limit, significantly below one’s creditlimit, for the first time in a casino when one wants to utilize the lineof credit for the relevant “goods” of “cash” is disheartening. The cardowner indignantly, and probably correctly, believes that his/her credithistory justifies a higher cash advance limit under the circumstances,and that a significant convenience has been inappropriately deniedhim/her. In a casino scenario cash is a necessary intermediate tosecuring the relevant goods, or services.

A study of available facts indicates, in fact, that when the relevantinformation is reviewed, in a significant number of cases a higher cashadvance limit and/or a higher velocity limit on a credit/debit cardaccount would be well within acceptable levels of risk. The higher limitwould be not only reasonable but also responsible for securing gamingentertainment for that person (as for instance compared to the cost ofcompetitive forms of entertainment or competitive uses for dispersibleincome.)

The instant invention, addresses a need for “gaming oriented” lines ofcredit, and in particular a preferred gaming oriented credit card andaccount. The invention includes an efficient method for prompting theopening or a new gaming oriented line of credit and for providing foressentially immediate use of the line of credit in proper circumstances.The prompt preferably occurs upon the discovery of a need, and thesystem preferably includes taking into account EFT gaming orientedtransaction history. More preferably the system takes into account aspecific patron’s own EFT gaming oriented transaction history, ifavailable. In such a manner an acceptable, responsible and efficientfunding of gaming oriented transactions, including cash advances fromlines of credit, can be established. Such a system benefits both casinosand patrons.

A capacity to “essentially immediately” effect gaming oriented EFTtransactions, including drawing reasonable and responsible cashadvances, upon the opening of a new gaming oriented line of credit,given proper circumstances, remedies deficiencies with existingcredit/debit card accounts and especially accommodates the gamingenvironment.

A preferred gaming oriented credit card and account is particularlytailored to fit the gaming environment, taking into account the needs ofcasinos, gaining merchants and patrons. (As discussed above such is notthe case with existing credit/debit card accounts.) A gaming orientedline of credit should have cash advance limits “commensurate with”credit limits, at least for gaming oriented transactions. (“Commensuratewith” will be taken to be herein “at least 50% of.”) Preferably a cashadvance limit is 100% of the available credit line, at least for gamingtransactions. Preferably a gaming oriented cash advance limit and creditlimit would be at least in part determined by taking into account EFTgaming oriented transactions history, quite possibly a patron’s ownhistory of gaming oriented EFT transactions, to the extent available. Anaccount issuer would preferably take into account not only EFT gamingoriented transactions history but also an evaluation of other criteriathat are typically used in determining credit worthiness, such as creditbureau reports and FICO. The account issuer would do or complete acredit check as well as possible, and could issue a credit card even ifthere is no previous EFT gaming oriented transactions history availableon the patron. (Arguably, statistical patterns of EFT gaming orientedtransactions could be relied upon. Statistical patterns of CCCA/POSdebit transactions and casino credit transactions may be available.)

The invention is founded upon the discovery that there are significantnumbers of patrons who are unnecessarily and unreasonably restricted incasinos by existing historic cash advance limits and/or velocity limitson their traditional credit/debit card accounts. Were potentiallyavailable facts taken into account, the limits could reasonably andresponsibly and safely be set higher. The invention proposes a varietyof means, including particularly preferred means, for accomplishing thisobjective.

A gaming oriented cash advance or other transaction from a new gamingoriented line of credit should be made available, under appropriatecircumstances, within at least an hour of completing a line of creditopening transaction, and preferably within ten minutes or less. Apermanent gaming oriented credit card, when issued, should beprocessable through EFT financial transaction terminals and EFTfinancial transaction networks.

The invention discloses methodology for efficiently opening new gamingoriented lines of credit including a credit card account, and forderiving essentially immediate cash advances or other value therefrom inappropriate circumstances. In particular, being refused a desired cashadvance or other EFT transaction based upon an existing card account ina casino is a preferred triggering event for a prompt to open such a newgaming oriented line of credit.

The methodology of the instant invention makes use of diversepre-existing capabilities, such as a capacity for using an automatedstation on a casino floor for initiating a request for a cash advancebased on an existing credit/debit card account, for automatedlyprompting a patron to open a new line of credit and for using that sameautomated station for initiating an application for a new line of creditand/or credit card account. The same automated station can be a basisand for using, essentially immediately, a new line of credit and/orcredit card account for reasonable cash advances, in appropriatecircumstances. An appropriate circumstance is, in particular, when anaccount issuer or co-issuer is a Merchant or master merchant of the newtransaction.

Alternate embodiments for utilizing a new gaming oriented line of creditcould include a more complex procedure of funding a “prepaid card”account with a new line of credit by the new account issuer, and/or aprocedure of indemnifying or guaranteeing a transaction on an existingcard account by a new account issuer from a newly established line ofcredit. Such systems could provide for the essentially immediate use ofthe prepaid card or newly indemnified card for gaming orientedtransactions, including securing cash, under appropriate conditions. (Aprepaid card or an existing card, secured directly or indirectly by anew line of credit, should be understood to be included in the term“credit” card herein.)

The invention further addresses uses for a card that is patron selectioncoded, in addition, for rewarding purposes. Given information in regardto a card owner’s preferences, defined by a card owner’s selection of atype of card, including color, etc., a more targeted rewarding programcould be affected. Casinos frequently attempt to reward credit cardsusers with benefits, such as golf time or spa time. Casinos give loyaltypoints usually on co-branded credit cards, and track the pointsgiven/redeemed via some type of player tracking system. Essentially thecasinos give points to reward loyalty and to build loyalty. Existingco-branded cards do not build a great deal of loyalty, however, at leastto date. The instant invention teaches redeeming loyalty points for cashin a casino and more specifically at an automated device, as well as fortraditional casino good and services. A further improvement teaches apatron selection of a coded card, improving the effectiveness of therewarding system. The patron selection coded card, such as a selectionof color, design, or other optional features, should better targetrewarding, matching rewards to likely preferences.

The instant invention discloses an automated kiosk, preferably forissuing gaming vouchers, and the like upon an authorization of funding,including funding by a casino credit or new EFT card credit account. Astandalone kiosk is disclosed structured and sized to be locatedproximate to a plurality of gaming machines but independent of anyparticular machine. A density of 1 kiosk to 20 to 100 gaming machines ispreferred. An automated patron interactive stand-alone kiosk wouldpreferably include, to maximize versatility, a POS terminal with a cardswipe reader, a screen, a key pad, a voucher printer or issuer and aticket/receipt/temporary card/permanent card reader/scanner fortransmitting information associated with a casino credit account and/ora new card account. The stand-alone kiosk may or may not includewireless technology. Means to communicate both with commercial EFT cardnetworks and with an in-house or quasi in-house gaming accounting systemis provided, including as well with a casino credit accounting systemand/or a new card account accounting system.

In operation, patrons would preferably swipe a card or have areceipt/ticket/temporary card/permanent card read, and/or enter accountidentifying information, likely enter a Personal Identification Number,request an amount, agree to any additional fees that may be charged andoptionally request or decline a receipt for the transaction. The requestpreferably would be forwarded to a financial transaction merchant and/orprocessor (which could be one or more entities) (which could sometimesbe referred to as a server) who would submit the transaction packet tobe forwarded to commercial banking and card association networks (whomay submit the request to an issuing bank or their agent for approval)or to a casino credit accounting system or to a new card accountingsystem, for approval and accounting.

If a transaction is denied, preferably a patron would be prompted orqueried about opening a new credit account, which could be a casinocredit account and/or a new credit card account. Preferably eitheraccount would be essentially immediately useable.

If approved, the authorized transaction would be preferably alsosubmitted to a merchant connected to a casino’s voucher managementsystem and/or database. The voucher management system and/or databasewould (preferably) interpret the approval message, validate thetransaction in-house and create a voucher record with a uniqueidentification that includes the amount. The voucher system and/ordatabase then would message a merchant that the voucher record has beencreated, whereby the merchant would send a message of approval to thestand-alone kiosk and cause a voucher printing device to print avoucher, and a receipt if requested. Both the processor system and theVoucher management system would preferably retain audit trails andreporting features to reconcile and balance activity.

As discussed above, the system may automatically query a patron whetherthe patron would like to open a new account, such as a new casino creditaccount and/or a new credit card account, whether not a transaction isdenied. The system might query a patron whether they would like to opensuch a new account at the beginning of a transaction.

Preferred embodiments of the improved kiosk of the instant inventioninclude structure for issuing slot vouchers in return for casino creditor credit from a newly opened credit card account. Preferred embodimentsalso include structure in an automated kiosk located on a gaming floor,proximate to but separate from gaming machines, for prompting a patronas to whether they would like to open a new gaming oriented account.Preferably the patron query in regard to a new account occurs subsequentto a failure to receive approval for a request based on an existingcommercial EFT account.

When it is stated that an automated kiosk is located on a gaming floorproximate to but separate from gaming machines, it is intended toindicate that the kiosk is not physically or electronically integratedinto any one gaming machine. That is, use of the kiosk does not tie upuse of a gaming machine and play on the gaming machine does not tie upthe automated kiosk. Also, since the automated kiosk is electronicallyseparate from the gaming machines, it is not subject to the stringentregulatory and security requirements associated with electronicsintegrated into gaming machines.

A financial transaction processor is preferably a third party processor(which could include a group of processors) that processes EFTtransactions for a variety of casinos, including a variety of separatelyowned casinos, separate from the commercial EFT network. A financialtransaction processor is not one of the commercial EFT networksdedicated to a particular card system. The financial transactionprocessor is also preferably physically separate from the gaming machineor casino voucher accounting system. Again, such separation avoidshaving to meet all of the stringent security regulations andrequirements associated with setting up, approving, monitoring andrepairing electronic systems integrated into gaming machines and/ortheir accounting systems.

A financial transaction merchant is a third party that stands in theshoes of a merchant or functions as a merchant for EFT gamingtransactions, likely for a variety of separately owned casinos. Thefinancial transaction merchant may maintain, underwrite and/or support acasino credit account and system and/or a new commercial credit cardaccount and system. The financial transaction merchant could also bethe, or a, financial transaction processor, or a brother/sister orrelated entity to the, or a, financial transaction processor. Afinancial transaction merchant might co-brand a credit card account. Afinancial transaction merchant may be the provider of the kiosk and themerchant used in the system. The financial transaction merchant maycontrol a cashless gateway.

Common examples of user communication equipment comprise keypads anddisplay panels. A card reader and ticket/receipt/temporary cardreader/scanner could be considered user communication equipment.

A casino credit accounting system would be a system that keeps track ofcasino patron credit accounts. It would include a system of billing andcollection for the accounts, which might, of course, be out-sourced. Therisk of maintaining the accounts might be mediated through means ofinsurance and/or indemnification. A new card accounting system wouldinclude a system to permit essentially immediate use of a new creditcard account. The new and/or essentially immediate use might berestricted to appropriate circumstances wherein involving the financialtransaction merchant and/or the casino fulfilled certain functions. Theuse might be limited to certain facilities. Presumably when an officialcard issues for a co-branded merchant/EFT provider account, theaccounting system would shift to the standard EFT commercial credit cardaccounting system.

A casino credit accounting system could be maintained by a financialtransaction merchant or be separate therefrom. Likely a third partyfinancial transaction merchant would offer to maintain such a casinocredit accounting system. However, various casinos for a variety ofreasons might prefer to maintain their own systems.

A new card accounting system would likely be maintained by a financialtransaction merchant, who likely has agreed to bear at least a portionof the risk of such new account. A financial transaction merchant mightbe a primary party that makes available, together with a commercial EFTsystem, a new gaming oriented credit card and account. Further, afinancial transaction merchant might well make immediately available toa patron, at least within the system served by the financial transactionmerchant, essentially immediate use a new card account, prior toreceiving the traditional plastic card in the mail which takes a week toten days after opening an account. Such immediate use under appropriateconditions would be analogous to the use made available by merchants whoco-sponsor new credit card accounts opened in their store. Suchmerchants are known to allow a patron to open a new co-sponsoredmerchant and commercial EFT account and to use that account immediatelywithin the merchant’s system, prior to receiving a plastic card in themail.

Preferably an automated kiosk of the improved system would come equippedwith a reader for a ticket and/or receipt and/or temporary card and/orpermanent card that might be associated with a casino credit accountand/or a new card account. Alternately, of course, the owner of a casinocredit account or a new credit account could enter all of the necessaryinformation for using the account into user communication equipmentprovided by an automated kiosk or POS terminal.

Preferably an automated kiosk on a gaming floor located proximate to butseparate from gaming machines would be located at the end of a bank ofgaming machines and would have a density with respect to gainingmachines of about one kiosk to 20 to 100 gaming machines. Sometimes acasino credit account is represented by card. At other times a casinocredit account may be represented, at least in part, by information thatthe user can submit. Thirdly, a casino credit account might berepresented by a ticket or a receipt or a temporary card that is machinereadable or scannable.

Likewise, a new card account, most typically a credit card account,might be associated with a machine readable ticket or receipt ortemporary card. However, as with the casino credit account, a new cardaccount might be associated with information that would have to besupplied by a user to identify the account.

A new card account is most likely a credit card account. However, itcould be that a new line of credit actually funds a new debit accountand card. Such card would appear to be a debit card, or possibly apro-paid card, although if the transaction were collapsed, in realitythe card and account should be deemed a credit card and account. As hasbeen discussed, since debit accounts can carry a line of credit, thedistinctions between debit accounts and credit accounts are blurred.

The invention includes a redemption system and a voucher printing systemoriented for table games. In one preferred embodiment of a redemptionsystem, a voucher scanner/reader (there is no intent to make anyparticular distinction between scanning and/or reading an item such as avoucher) and a voucher receipt printer (which could be a vouchercanceling system) are associated with a POS terminal at a gaming table.The POS terminal is in communication with a voucher host which isstructured to validate a voucher and a voucher amount. (The intent ofvalidation is to protect and check against fraud via counterfeitvouchers or forged amounts.) The POS terminal is structured to display aredemption amount received from the voucher host. The POS terminal,structured together with a voucher receipt printer, can optionally printa voucher receipt. A table issues the redemption amount, in cash orchips or gaming credit.

A voucher issuing system oriented for gaming tables comprises, in apreferred embodiment, a POS terminal having user communication equipmentand a voucher printer. The POS terminal is structured to receive amountinformation and to communicate the received amount information to avoucher host. The POS terminal is further structured to receive voucherissuing information from the voucher host and as structured togetherwith a voucher printer, to print a voucher related to the receivedinformation.

A cashless gaming system for table games also preferably includes a fundentry device, a voucher printer, a voucher reader scanner and a voucherreceipt printer, all located at a gaming table and in communication,directly or indirectly, with a voucher host. The host accounts forissued and redeemed vouchers. A preferred embodiment of the inventioncomprises entering an amount into a fund entry device at a table,communicating the amount to a voucher host, receiving information to beprinted on a voucher at the table and printing a voucher with theinformation at the table. A preferred method for providing voucherredemption at table games includes scanning a voucher at a table,communicating voucher information to a voucher host for validation,receiving redemption information relating to the voucher at the table,instructing the issuing of funds corresponding to the voucher amount atthe table and optionally issuing a receipt for the voucher at the table.Again, a receipt could be any of various items, including a cancelledvoucher.

The invention also includes facilitating a cash advance approval at thekiosk.

The invention includes a preferred gaming oriented credit card account.The account is associated with a credit card processable through EFTfinancial transaction terminals and EFT financial transaction networksat a variety of merchants. The phrase “EFT financial transactionterminals” is intended to indicate commercially available terminals forprocessing commercial EFT (electronic funds transfer) transactions, suchas credit cards and/or debit cards from a variety of issuers. The phrase“EFT financial transaction networks” is intended to cover credit cardand/or debit card commercial financial transaction processing networks.(The phrase could include electronic check clearing networks and storedvalue card networks and even special purpose prepaid card networks.)

It should be noted, as discussed above, that distinctions between creditcards and debit cards are becoming blurred, with credit accountsaffording “cash advances” and debit accounts being secured by “lines ofcredit.” A debit card funded by a line of credit should be considered acredit card herein.

The credit card associated with the credit account of a preferredembodiment of the instant invention is intended to be useable as ageneral purpose credit card at a variety of merchants, like a Visa Cardand/or Master Card and/or Discover Card and the like. The card will mostlikely be co-sponsored by one of the commercial card service providersand have, for instance, a Master Card bug on it. In such circumstancesit would only be accepted at merchant locations that accept Master Card.The class of merchants that subscribe to the use of the card isenvisioned to include more than just casinos and/or more than just onemerchant, such as, for instance any merchant who accepts Master Card.However, this card is a gaming oriented cad and account and may havedifferent lines of credit and/or cash advance limits for non-gamingoriented transactions than it has for gaming oriented transactions.

It is specifically envisioned in a preferred embodiment that the accountissuer or co-issuer may be identified as the merchant in EFTtransactions in a casino. While a casino might be regarded as thetechnical merchant, an agent EFT merchant for a variety of casinos iswell positioned to acquire EFT gaming oriented transaction history.

A preferred gaming oriented credit card account should have a cashadvance limit “commensurate with” its credit limit, at least for gamingoriented transactions. The phrase “commensurate with” should beunderstood to mean herein “at least 50% of.” In preferred embodiments itis envisioned that the cash advance limit would essentially be the sameas the credit limit, at least for gaming oriented transactions. However,one should not be allowed to escape the scope of the invention bysetting a false or sham or arbitrary or non-traditional “credit limit”above the cash advance limit. For this reason “commensurate with” isdefined as “at least 50% of.” Furthermore, the “credit limit” referredto is intended to indicate a realistic, meaningful, standard,responsible credit limit, not some credit limit set up arbitrarily toavoid the scope of a patent.

A further feature of a preferred gaming oriented credit card account isthat the credit card account should make available transactions,preferably cash transactions, in appropriate circumstances within atleast an hour of completing an account opening transaction. Preferablyappropriate circumstances are when the account issuer (term includesco-issuer) is also identified as a “merchant” of the transaction. Thereis an analogy here with other co-sponsored credit cards. Credit cardscosponsored between a merchant and a card system provider such as MasterCard or Visa are known wherein immediately after completing an accountopening transaction the new account owner is allowed to make charges onthe account in the establishment of the merchant that co-sponsors thecard.

In the instant case where the term account issuer is used, the term isintended to be understood to include a casino as well as an agent of thecasino, who may be a merchant for EFT transactions in the casino (aswell as other casinos, most likely.) The casino could be its own accountissuer. The casino could also be a co-issuer, together with an agent EFTmerchant and/or a card service provider.

In preferred embodiments a cash advance limit and/or credit limit, atleast for gaming oriented transactions, would be based at least in parton ‘a history of EFT gaming transactions. Statistical histories of EFTgaming transactions could be utilized. Preferably a history of EFTgaming relating transactions of the patron account owner would also beutilized, at least in part, to the extent available. Again, a merchantfor EFT transactions for a multitude of casinos is in position tocollect and access such a history of gaming, both personal andstatistical. Such merchants may have access to patron CCCA, POS Debit,ATM, Check Cashing, and Casino Credit Line history. A risk scoring modelmight evaluate all these factors, among others.

It is most preferable that an account transaction including a cashadvance transaction, is available within at least ten minutes ofcompleting a gaming oriented account or line of credit openingtransaction.

Preferably an account card, after it arrives in the mail, would carry anindicia of patron selection. Preferably the indicia of patron selectionwould be machine readable as well as visible. Preferably rewards awardedto an account owner, typically based upon use of the card at a casino orin gaming, would be based at least in part on the patron selection, tobetter target the rewarding.

It is envisioned that a gaining oriented account would also beassociated with a PIN (Personal Identification Number).

The invention also includes a preferred method for enhanced patronfunding comprising opening a credit card account and associating withthe account a credit card processable through EFT financial transactionterminals and EFT financial transaction networks for a variety ofmerchants, as discussed above. The method would include associating acash advance limit with the account commensurate with an account creditlimit, at least for gaming oriented transactions. The invention wouldfurther include making available an account transaction, including acash advance transaction, to a patron within at least an hour ofcompleting an account opening transaction under appropriatecircumstances. The circumstances could include the account issuer (orco-issuer) being a merchant with respect to the transaction. (It may bethat the new card can be used for CCCA transactions only on accountissuer machines.) The system or method also preferably includes settinga cash advance limit based at least in part on a history of EFT gamingtransactions. Most preferably the system or method includes makingavailable a transaction, including a cash advance transaction, within atleast ten minutes of completing an account opening transaction. Furtherpreferably the account is associated with a PIN, the card includes anindicia of patron selection and rewards are awarded to an account ownerbased in at least in part on card use and the indicia of patronselection. Use of the card can accrue “points” and point redemption forcash at a cage or at any account issuer operated cash dispensing machinecould be provided.

The instant invention also includes a preferred method for enhancedpatron funding in a casino comprising receiving a denial of a requestfor an EFT card transaction by a patron at a casino, preferably at anautomated station, and providing a (preferably automated) prompt(preferably at the station) as to whether a patron would like to applyfor a new line of credit, useable within at least one hour of completingthe application. An automated station could be an automated kiosk or anATM. Preferably, but not necessarily, the prompt would be providedsubsequent to receiving the denial. The instant method for enhancedpatron funding would preferably include securing credit relatedinformation from the patron at an automated station and utilizing patronEFT gaming transaction history for approving the new line of credit. Theapproval process would likely be completed at a cage. A preferred methodwould further include approving an application for a new line of creditand providing a cash advance from the new line of credit within at leastan hour of the approval, preferably within at least ten minutes from theapproval. The line of credit could be a casino line of credit.Preferably the line of credit would be represented by a credit cardaccount. (Preferably the account would be a new account, but it isconceivable that an existing account could be indemnified or guaranteed,which would be a form of a new line of credit. It is also conceivablethat a new line of credit could fund a prepaid card account.)

A further aspect of the instant invention includes a system for enhancedpatron funding in a casino comprising providing a casino patron anopportunity to initiate an application for a new line of credit at anautomated station in a casino, including an opportunity to submit patroninformation and, within at least an hour of approval of a new line ofcredit for the patron, providing the patron funds (cash or cashequivalent) in the casino based on the new line of credit. Likely theapproved process would be completed at a cage. Preferably this preferredembodiment includes an account issuer who is identified as a merchantassociated with the transaction for the funds. Again, preferably theapproved new line of credit would include a cash advance limit based onEFT gaming transaction history.

Finally, the instant invention optionally includes an EFT cardprocessable through EFT financial transaction terminals including anindicia of owner selection, coded in machine readable form and/orvisibly coded. The patron selection and/or coding can be indicia ofgender.

Notes: A debit card, an ATM card, a credit card, even a check cardand/or a prepaid card, may be referred to herein as an “EFT card.” Atransaction using such card, for either goods/services and/or cash,could be referred to as an EFT transaction. Using such card usuallyimplicates an EFT card reader and an EFT financial transaction networkand involves a merchant. Frequently, using such card also implicates aPIN.

In the electronic funds transfer or EFT world, as the term is broadlyused herein, historic distinctions are becoming blurred. Thesedistinctions are mentioned here but no particular weight should beplaced upon them, per se, anticipating that the distinctions arebecoming increasingly blurred with time. Several historically differenttypes of EFT card transactions could be identified: an ATM transaction;a POS debit transaction; a POS credit transaction; a credit card cashadvance (CCCA) transaction; a paperless check transaction; a prepaidcard transaction; a stored value card transaction. Of thesetransactions, historically, the POS credit and credit card cash advancetransactions are regarded as credit transactions. However, bank accountscan be associated with lines of credit and credit cards can produce a“cash advance,” so what appears to be a “debit” transaction may actuallybe a “credit” transaction, and vice versa. The distinctions are becomingunimportant. Further, of the distinctions mentioned above, the pure ATMtransaction at an automated teller, historically a specific transactionfor cash, is becoming less significant. And further, while a debit,credit, stored value, pre-paid and check card have historically beenused in transactions for goods and services, use of all cards for cashtransactions is rising in importance.

An automated EFT station should have at least user communicationequipment, card reader equipment and dispenser equipment for at leastcash or cash equivalents, such as vouchers. An automated EFT stationwould be in communication, directly or indirectly, with commercial EFTnetworks.

An “account issuer” for a line of credit would at least be a co-sponsorof an account.\

An agent EFT merchant assumes the role of “merchant,” usually for avariety of merchants, for EFT transactions.

One aspect of the instant invention involves prompting a patron toestablish a gaming oriented line of credit, the prompting preferablytaking place at an automated EFT station on a gaming floor. The processof opening a gaming oriented line of credit may be able to be initiatedat the automated station. Preferably the process could proceed at theautomated EFT station up to a pre-approval stage. The process would thenpreferably be completed at a cage. Preferably also an automated EFTstation would prompt a user as to whether they might wish to open agaming oriented line of credit, based upon the denial of approval of anEFT transaction, especially a credit/debit card cash advancetransaction.

A preferred embodiment of a gaming oriented line of credit isrepresented by a gaming oriented credit card and account. The gamingoriented credit card and account would have a card processable bycommercial EFT card readers and over commercial EFT networks. The cashadvance limit of a gaming oriented credit card and account should becommensurate with the line of credit, at least for gaming orientedtransactions. At least limited use in appropriate circumstances shouldbe provided immediately (within 60 minutes or less) upon the completionof the opening and approval process for a gaming oriented credit cardand account. The at least limited immediate use should preferablyinclude use for gaming where the account issuer or co-issuer is themerchant or master merchant of the use transaction.

A conceivable means to implement a gaming oriented line of credit wouldbe to insure, guarantee, indemnify or stand behind a transaction eitherafter the transaction had been refused by the card issuer and/ornetworks or even before a request had been approved or disapproved. Sucha process would likely require agreement and consent between threeparties, the gaming patron, the account issuer of the new line of creditproviding the indemnity and the existing card issuer. In EFT cardprocessing systems the account issuer typically bears the risk of theloss in a “card presented” transaction. The risk of loss from a “cardnot presented” transaction typically shifts from the account issuer tothe merchant. In the gaming scenario a request for cash beyond anexisting account cash limit could be treated like a “card not presented”transaction in that the risk of loss could shift to a merchant. Themerchant and new account sponsor presumably would have access to datathat could define and estimate the risks involved in each transactionwith precision, accuracy and detail in order to support an indemnitysystem.

A further conceivable embodiment of a gaming oriented line of creditcould utilize strategies and methodologies associated with “pre-paidcards.” It is known to be able to “load” a prepaid card account andessentially immediately use the card, at least for special purposes.I.e., it is known that an owner of a prepaid cell phone card can depositmoney, through unrelated participating merchants, and have the fundsessentially immediately credited to his/her prepaid phone card account,and the owner can then essentially immediately use the cell phone basedupon the deposit just made. Although the pre-paid account owner likelyhas a “card,” typically neither use of the cell phone nor actuallymaking the deposit is dependent upon possession of the card. The cellphone provider maintains the pre-paid account electronically. The cellphone provider can recognize that the account has been loaded by avariety of electronic means and accords the owner essentially immediateuse of the phone based upon the recognition of the deposit. A gamingpatron that opens a new gaming oriented line of credit could essentiallybe deemed to have opened a pre-paid card account “funded” by the line ofcredit.

Upon opening of a new line of credit a patron could be given a papervoucher/receipt/ticket/temporary card with identifying numbers. Perhapsa bar coded ticket that is scannable would be produced. The patron couldtake the information to a reader/scanner, or a cage, and receive cash(or cash equivalent, which could be slot vouchers, cashless gamingvouchers, playing credit, chips or the like.) The account would bemaintained by the account issuers, which could be any combination of thecasino, casino’s agent, and/or a financial transaction processor.

As a mechanism, an account issuer could electronically deposit fundsfrom a line of credit into a prepaid card account.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments areconsidered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-C, 2, and 3A-C illustrate embodiments of a stand-aloneautomated interactive kiosk according to preferred embodiments of theinstant invention, situated or structured and designed to be located endof bank (EOB).

FIGS. 4A-C illustrate two sides of a preferred embodiment of a voucher,as well as a receipt.

FIG. 4D illustrates a transaction flow deployed in a field trial of thesystem.

FIGS. 5A-B, 6A-B, 7A-B, 8A-B, 9A-B, 10A-B, 11A-B, 12A-B, 13A-B, 14A-B,15A-B, 16A-B, 17A-B, 18A-B and 19A-B illustrate optional preferredembodiments for transaction flows for the inventive system.

FIGS. 20A-C illustrate topologies for an end of bank kiosk andsupporting systems.

FIG. 20D illustrates one option for a merchant level implementation.

FIGS. 21-23 illustrate three transaction flow options for preferredembodiments of the system, including GCA System that communicates with anew card/casino card system. The GCA system may well encompass afinancial transaction merchant and a cashless gateway.

FIG. 24 illustrate apparatus and steps for the instant invention attable games.

FIG. 25 illustrates steps of an embodiment for an auto-roll to establisha new credit line, including a new gaming oriented credit card and acasino line of credit.

FIGS. 26A-D illustrate embodiments of coded credit cards for patronselection.

The drawings are primarily illustrative. It would be understood thatstructure may have been simplified and details omitted in order toconvey certain aspects of the invention. Scale may be sacrificed toclarity.

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments areconsidered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The term voucher or “slot voucher” should be understood to comprehendand include tickets, scripts, coupons, receipts, drafts or other printedmedium usable to secure cash or credit or goods or services in a casino.In general, embodiments of the instant invention permit the purchase ofa gaming machine voucher (typically called a “slot voucher”) usingequipment proximate to but not integrated into a particular gamingdevice. The voucher is purchased through funding via a banking cardassociation network and/or stored value account and/or casino creditaccount or new card account. Authorization for the funding causes a barcoded or similar audit controlled voucher to be printed or issued. Thevoucher can be inserted into a slot bill validator, for instance, or asimilar device for reading vouchers, to fund gaming activity. Thevoucher can also be exchanged for cash at a self-serve redemption kioskor at a cashier window. The system can include vouchers that may be usedto fund activity for table games as well.

The instant invention discloses a process to enable the printing ofgaming device vouchers (bar-coded tickets) at stand-alone kiosks andgaming tables based upon electronic funds transfer (EFT) or similar fundapproval from casino or new accounts. Transaction options include theuse of debit cards, ATM cards, a credit cards, stored value cards andcards or receipts or information relating to casinos or new accounts.Compact kiosks for any purpose are preferably locatable at the end ofbanks (EOB) of slot machines, such as at the end of a bank of 40machines, to maximize convenience to casino patrons. Kiosk to gamingmachine density is preferably 1 kiosk to 20 to 100 gaming machines.

An automated interactive kiosk preferably includes a PIN pad (forPersonal Identification Number entry), a card reader that supportsmagnetic stripe cards and smart cards, a ticket/receipt/temporarycard/permanent card reader/scanner and a display, as well as a voucherprinter and a receipt printer. Communication means are required for theEFT networks, for the casino voucher accounting system, and for a casinoaccount accounting system and/or new card accounting system.

FIGS. 1A-3C illustrate physical embodiments of preferred apparatus forthe purchase of slot vouchers with electronic funds. The apparatus isreferred to as a stand-alone automated interactive kiosk, illustrated askiosk K in FIGS. 1A-3C. It can be seen that kiosk K is illustrated asbeing locatable at the end of a bank (EOB) of slot machines S. A patronor a player P is illustrated operating the kiosk K in FIGS. 2 and 3A.Typically, as per FIG. 3B, a kiosk would include an EFT card reader CR,user interactive communication equipment, such as a PIN-pad KP and adisplay D, voucher issuing equipment TP and Reader Scanner RS.Typically, as per FIG. 3B, the voucher issuing equipment TP would printa voucher V in accordance with authorized printing instructions. FIG. 3Balso illustrates kiosk hardware components, RF client radio CR and patchantenna PA, as well as display D, keypad KP, card reader CR, processor Pand ticket printer TP. FIG. 3C illustrates alternate kiosk hardwarecomponents including client antenna CA, touch screen display TSD, cardreader CR, PIN pad PP, receipt reader scanner RS, ticket printer TP,client radio CRA and processor P. Thus, FIGS. 1A to 3C illustratepreferred designs for a compact kiosk K that will dispense debit ticketsV via PIN-based EFT transactions. The kiosk design is preferably smallenough to be installed at the end of a bank of slot machines, maximizingconvenience to casino patrons. A sleek, compact design and a secure,stable installation are preferred features of the kiosk design for thisimplementation.

The kiosk preferably generates bar-coded vouchers similar to a debitticket, with front side VF and rearside VR, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B,which voucher can be inserted into a bill acceptor of a slot machine tofund gaming activity or can be redeemed for cash at a casino cage orcashier booth or redemption kiosk. The kiosk preferably offers patronsoptional receipts similar to the receipt R shown in FIG. 4C.

The kiosk includes means for communicating with an electronic fundstransfer system as well as means for communicating with an in-housevoucher accounting system. Means for communicating with an electronicfunds transfer system would preferably include communicating through anEFT financial processor. Means for communicating with a voucheraccounting system would preferably include means for verifying a voucherthat is to be issued. That is, the voucher issuing process preferablyreceives verification from a voucher accounting system.

As illustrated in FIG. 4D, preferably a financial transaction merchant,represented by servers, will be involved, together with means forcommunicating with an existing casino credit account and/or a new creditcard accounting system, not shown. Preferably also the kiosk includes areader/scanner for receipts/voucher/temporary cards.

Receipt issuing equipment is preferably associated with the kiosk.Preferably a patron has an option of receiving or not receiving areceipt for a transaction. An option may be provided for a patron toself-select a personal daily limit for receiving funds from the card forgaming.

In preferred methodology, as illustrated in FIG. 4D, a patron swipes orinserts a debit or ATM card at a kiosk. The patron enters a PIN, such asby using a PIN-pad, and an amount. The patron confirms the surchargethat will be charged to the patron’s account and requests or declines areceipt.

In a second step a message is preferably sent via if (wireless) or cableconnection to a financial processor and its system. A financialprocessor sends or forwards the request, properly formatted, to anappropriate banking network for a debit withdrawal authorization. Thebanking network approves (or disapproves) the debit withdrawaltransaction and communicates the message back to the financial processorsystem.

Presuming an approval of the debit withdrawal, the financial processorsystem sends a voucher request message ⁻CO a voucher accounting asystem, referred to as a TITO system. The voucher accounting systemresponds to the financial processor with a voucher authorizationmessage, preferably including appropriate validation data. The financialprocessor forwards the voucher authorization message to the kiosk. Thekiosk prints a bar coded voucher in the amount of the debit withdrawalrequest. Subsequently, the patron can redeem the voucher for cash at acasino cage or a cashier booth, or insert it into a bill acceptor of aproperly equipped gaining machine. In an alternate embodiment, thevoucher accounting system communicates directly with the kiosk. Thispermits the voucher accounting system to verify printer status. Suchcommunication means would likely include rf or cable connection. Thevoucher accounting system can than confirm to the financial processorthat the printer is on line and ready. In such embodiments the voucheraccounting system can send a message directly to a voucher printer atthe kiosk to print a bar coded voucher in the amount of the debitwithdrawal request.

To say that a kiosk is located on a gaming floor separate from aparticular gaming machine means that the kiosk is not integrallyconnected with a particular gaming machine, by hardware and software.The kiosk is not integrated into that gaming machine A stand-alone kioskcould be set up adjacent to and/or touching and/or physically supportedby a gaming machine, and is preferably located at the end of a bank ofslot machines. The kiosk is separate, however, from any particulargaming machine in that it has no integration with that particular gamingmachine and its electronics. Said otherwise, simultaneous use of thekiosk and any particular gaming machine by different patrons should bepossible.

Key terms for understanding the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 23 are asfollows:

GE (gaming environment merchant) - the GE server is a front-endcommunications server that funnels all communications upstream with theCashless Gateway and downstream to the TITO server. In addition tomessaging switching functions, it has application logic for errorhandling and logging. There is no persistent or critical applicationdata stored in this server.

CG (cashless gateway) - the CG serves as the communications nexus andprovides the application intelligence to synchronize transactions acrosscomponents and reliably record transactions and enforce security. Thiscomponent interfaces to all Gaming Environment servers, the Database,and the banking networks via USAP. The CG performs the function of afinancial transaction processor. A CG is a gateway for cashless access.

ESS and ECS - An alternate embodiment can represent the functionality ofthe communications server, the gaming environment merchant and thecashless gateway in terms of servers, a slot system server and a centralserver. ESS refers to the EDITH slot system server. ECS refers to theEDITH Central Server. Both the ESS server and ECS server can funnelcommunications with the slot system with the slot ticket system and/orthe ticket in ticket out slot system. The TITO system or ticket inticket out system could of course refer to and service other voucher orticket systems than those related to slot machines.

Private Label Network - for the convenience of processing, private labelnetworks might be distinguished from banking networks. Private labelnetworks may have slightly different processing features. However, ingeneral private label networks are usually considered part and parcel ofthe banking card networks.

TITO System - generic reference to ticket-in/ticket-out systems. Theticket database resides on the TITO system server and is maintained bycasino personnel.

Thick Client - in a client/server architecture a thick client performsthe bulk of the data processing operations. The data itself is stored onthe server. For purposes of this document, thick client refers to a PCor POS terminal at the kiosk that contains the application software andhas relatively strong processing capability.

Thin Client - in client/server applications a thin client is designed tobe especially small so that the bulk of the data processing occurs onthe server. For purposes of this document, thin client refers to a lowcost processing solution at the kiosk whereby screen images and promptsare resident on the client and application software resides on theserver.

Zero Client in client/server applications the zero client is the lowestcost approach at the client level whereby all data processing occurs atthe server. For purposes of this document, this solution has beenincluded in order to illustrate all design options. This is not theinitially preferred option.

Visa PED Certification - device approval process mandated by VisaInternational. It deals with the physical security of POS terminals(i.e. tamper-proof) and security procedures for how encryption keys arestored, transported and injected.

EMV Certified - Acronym for Europay, Mastercard, Visa organization. Thiscertification deals with worldwide standards at the firmware and circuitboard level and how devices must function and inter-operate with oneanother.

“Delivery of Funds” - this expression is used in this document toconceptually describe the messaging that takes place between a serverand the kiosk/printer. In some design options the TITO server tells thekiosk/printer to generate a ticket, in other design options the GEserver tells the kiosk/printer to generate a ticket. In reality, thiscommunication involves a message containing ticket data directing thekiosk/printer to generate a debit ticket.

In regard to the actual ‘funds,’ it should be understood that although apatron’s bank account is debited in real time, a casino essentially“fronts” the funds to the player in the form of a cashable debit ticketbecause the casino is not reimbursed until two business days later bythe banking networks.

The instant invention discloses original preferred apparatus and processto enable the printing of gaming device vouchers (bar-coded ticketsreferred to as debit tickets or slot vouchers) at stand-alone kiosksbased upon electronic funds transfers (EFT). Although initially a kioskwill dispense slot vouchers through the use of debit cards, ATM cards,credit cards, and stored value cards, software “hooks” can be built intoa unit for future support of promotional tickets and self-serve compslip creation (bonus point redemption via interface to player trackingsystems). No cash need be stored in the kiosk; therefore ATM (cashdispensing) transactions are not necessary.

Such compact kiosks can be located at the end of banks of slot machines,or nearby, to maximize convenience to casino patrons. Key aspects of thekiosk are a small, sleek design, low cost and high reliability. Designfeatures include:

-   1. Compliance with gaming regs and bank network rules-   2. Reliability-   3. Ease of manufacturing-   4. Low cost-   5. Use of minimal resources from gaming machine manufacturers-   6. Ease of installation and maintenance from casino perspective    (i.e. slot moves, ticket stock replenishment)-   7. Ease of installation.

Preferred kiosk design includes an extremely small footprint, thesmaller the better. The less intrusive the unit, the greater the numberof installation options there are across a slot floor.

An ideal installation method for a kiosk would be to embed it into or onthe side of slot machine cabinets at the end of a bank, to the extentcasino operators and gaming regulators will allow this. The second bestdesign approach would be a flat kiosk that takes up as little space aspossible situated in a walkway between banks. One goal is to minimizethe depth of the kiosk to ensure that the kiosk creates no traffic flowissues for the casinos.

Preferred kiosk attributes include:

1. Aesthetics - an attractive, sleek, “cutting edge” design; one thatblends in with the aesthetics of a slot floor.

2. Durability - a durable unit that can withstand the wear and tear of a24 x 7 casino environment.

3. Quality - Transaction reliability is paramount. No more than 1unexpected error per 5,000 transactions.

4. Cost - Component hardware cost able to be significantly reduced belowATM machine costs.

5. Size - Limit hardware depth due to the limited space between slotmachines in the average casino.

6. Power cable - ideally should be 10 feet in length with an in-linepower adaptor, not wall mount. Ideally modular at the device so cord canbe fed through metal stalk mount and cable holes in slot base.

7. Expandability - designed at the software level with futureexpandability in mind (i.e. promo tickets, bonus point lookup and compcreation); without ATM functionality or bill breakage (cash dispensing)because of desire for a small footprint. (Test results show that demandfor debit tickets on a slot floor is enough to make device successful.)

8. Processing Capability - Thin Client or Thick Client or Zero Client.

9. Connectivity - Should support both hard-wire and RF (wireless)communications (proprietary 2.4 GHZ or 802.11, for example). Thepreferable implementation is wireless since this will allow casinooperators to reconfigure their slot floors without having to pull newcable or reroute existing cable (RS232 or TCP/IP to be determined).

10. PIN encryption - should meet ANSI standards for “TDES” (triple DES)and “DUKPT” (derived unique key per transaction).

11. VISA Certification - should be a VISA approved PED.

12. EMV Certification - should meet EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa)worldwide standards for firmware and circuitry and how POS type devicesinter-operate with one another.

13. FCC Certification - if individual components are used to build kioskrather than an off-the-shelf POS terminal, FCC certification may benecessary (Part 68 and/or 15).

14. OS - Linux operating system is preferred.

15. Card Reader - ATM/debit and Smart card capable; preferred is avertical swipe, not horizontal.

16. PIN pad - no longer needs to be a separate hard key or membranekeypad. It can be embedded in the display screen as long as it complieswith ANSI and VISA PIN security requirements and supports TDES andDUKPT.

17. Numeric Keypad not required if a PIN pad is embedded in the display.However, if one is included, it should be “water splash-resistant.”

18. Printer - Thermal printer with auto-cut and partial pelf capability.Should support ample size paper roll or voucher stock.

19. Display - preferably no smaller than 2.75” wide x 1.75” high. Shouldbe readable in casino ambient lighting. Color preferred.

20. User interface - should be simple and easy to use. Preferably onlykeys/buttons necessary to patron to perform a transaction should beavailable. On/off button should not be exposed outside secure area ofkiosk enclosure

21. Software Interface - should provide English and Spanish prompting.

22. Serial ports - should have at least 2 available RS232 ports. One canbe used to communicate with an RF client radio; the other can be usedfor a modem connection.

Table I lists design components to be considered for the most effectiveimplementations. Regardless of the options chosen, the kiosk wouldpreferably support both wired and wireless connectivity in case aparticular casino or jurisdiction prohibits one or the other.

Likewise, because gaming regulatory requirements vary by jurisdiction,options 1, 2, 6, 7, 11, and 12 of Table I need to support twoconfigurations relative to the Gaming Environment server:

1. GE located at processors data center.

2. GE located within the casino.

FIGS. 5 through 19 include diagrams of each of the design option ofTable 1. The pros and cons of each design option as listed below. Prosare listed with a prefix of “+” and cons are listed with a prefix of“^(↓)”.

FIGS. 5A, B- Design #1: GE Server (or the like) Delivers Funds

-   + Completely wireless at slot floor level which eliminates the need    to pull cables to slot banks. This mobility can minimize device    downtime when slot floor reconfigurations occur.-   + Visa PED certified terminal can save developmental cost and time    to market over a thin client that is not certified.-   + Because of the thick client, the proprietary wireless solution can    be used.-   + The proprietary wireless product has already proven itself within    a casino environment.-   + Server level software can be leveraged for the EOB kiosk system.-   + Should require less development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer.-   ^(↓) GE server may need to reside at the casino because of funds    delivery role.-   ^(↓) The kiosk system may come under more gaming regulatory scrutiny    if GE delivers funds.-   ^(↓) Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require more    resources to manage/implement on a thick client than on a thin    client.

FIGS. 6A,B - Design #2: GE Server (or the Like) Delivers Funds

-   + Visa PED certified terminal will save development cost and time to    market over a thin client that is not certified.-   + Server level software can be leveraged for the EOB kiosk system.-   + Should require less development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer compared to some other designs (i.e. #3).-   + No wireless segment will save cost.-   ^(↓) Cable pulls from kiosk to GE server result in less mobile unit.    Slot floor reconfigurations will create more kiosk downtime than    design option #1.-   ^(↓) GE server may need to reside at the casino because of funds    delivery role.-   ^(↓) The kiosk system may come under more gaming regulatory scrutiny    than if GE delivers funds.-   ^(↓) Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require more    resources to manage/implement on a thick client than on a thin    client.

FIGS. 7A,B - Design #3: TITO Delivers Funds and Routes Auth Messaging

-   + End-of-bank kiosk system should incur less scrutiny from gaming    regulators because it does not deliver funds to kiosk.-   + Visa PED certified terminal will save developmental cost and time    to market over a thin client that is not certified.-   + Server level software can be leveraged for the EOB kiosk system.-   + No wireless segment will save cost.-   ^(↓) Will require more development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer TITO team for Auth message handling.-   ^(↓) Cable pulls from kiosk to TITO server result in less mobile    unit. Slot floor reconfigurations will create more kiosk downtime    than wireless solutions.-   ^(↓) Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require more    resources to manage/implement on a thick client than on a thin    client.

FIGS. 8A,B - Design #4: TITO System Delivers Funds

-   + Should require less development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer compared to other designs (i.e. #3).-   + Visa PED certified terminal will save development cost and time to    market over a thin client that is not certified.-   + Server level software can be leveraged for the EOB kiosk system.-   + No wireless segment will save cost.-   ^(↓) Cable pulls from kiosk to TITO server and to GE server result    in less mobile unit. Slot floor reconfigurations will create more    kiosk downtime than wireless solutions.-   ^(↓) Cable pulls to both TITO system and GE server will add time and    cost to implementation.-   ^(↓) GE server may need to reside at the casino because of funds    delivery role.-   ^(↓) The kiosk system may come under more gaming regulatory scrutiny    if GE delivers funds.-   ^(↓) Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require more    resources to manage/implement on a thick client than on a thin    client.

FIGS. 9A,B - Design #5: TITO System Delivers Funds

-   + Visa PED certified terminal will save development cost and time to    market over a thin client that is not certified.-   + Because of the thick client, the proprietary wireless solution can    be used.-   + The proprietary wireless product has already proven itself within    a casino environment.-   + Server level software can be leveraged for the EOB kiosk system.-   ^(↓) GE server may need to reside at the casino because of funds    delivery role.-   ^(↓) The kiosk system may come under more gaming regulatory scrutiny    if GE delivers funds.-   ^(↓) Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require more    resources to manage/implement on a thick client than on a thin    client.-   ^(↓) Will require cable pulls to both TITO system and RF access    points in the ceiling which will add time and cost to    implementation.

FIGS. 10A,B - Design #6: GE Server (or the Like ) Delivers Funds

-   + Completely wireless at slot floor level which eliminates the need    to pull cables to slot banks. This mobility will minimize device    downtime when slot floor reconfigurations occur.-   + Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require fewer    resources to manage/implement on a thin client than on a thick    client.-   + Should require less development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer compared to other designs.-   ^(↓) 802.11 wireless has not been proven as a reliable RF solution    within a casino environment for this type of application.-   ^(↓) GE server may need to reside at the casino because of funds    delivery role.-   ^(↓) The kiosk system may come under more gaming regulatory scrutiny    if GE delivers funds.

FIGS. 11A,B - Design #7: GE Server (or the Like) Delivers Funds

-   + Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require fewer    resources to manage/implement on a thin client than on a thick    client.-   + Should require less development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer compared to other designs (i.e. #3).-   + No wireless segment will save cost.-   ^(↓) Cable pulls from kiosk to GE server result in less mobile unit.    Slot floor reconfigurations will create more kiosk downtime than    wireless solutions.-   ^(↓) GE server may need to reside at the casino because of funds    delivery role.-   ^(↓) The kiosk system may come under more gaming regulatory scrutiny    if GE delivers funds.

FIGS. 12A,B - Design #8: TITO Delivers Funds and Routes Auth Messaging

+ Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require fewer resources tomanage/implement on a thin client than on a thick client.

-   + Kiosk system should encounter less scrutiny from gaming regulators    since GE server is not delivering funds.-   + No wireless segment will save cost.-   ^(↓) Will require more development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer TITO team for Auth message handling.-   ^(↓) Cable pulls from kiosk to 1110 server result in less mobile    unit. Slot floor reconfigurations will create more kiosk downtime    than a wireless solution at the kiosk level.-   ^(↓) Will require cable pulls to both TITO system and RF access    points in the ceiling which will add time and cost to    implementation.

FIGS. 13A,B- Design #9: TM) System Delivers Funds

-   + Software changes/updates at the kiosk level require fewer    resources to manage/implement on a thin client than on a thick    client.-   + Should require less development resources from Gaming Machine    Manufacturer compared to designs that require TITO to deliver funds    and/or route auth messaging.-   + No wireless segment will save cost.-   ^(↓) Cable pulls from kiosk to TITO server and to GE server result    in less mobile unit. Slot floor reconfigurations will create more    kiosk downtime than wireless solution.-   ^(↓) Will require more development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer TITO team for ticket printing.

FIGS. 14A,B - Design #10: TITO System Delivers Funds

-   + Kiosk system should encounter less scrutiny from gaming regulators    since GE server is not delivering funds.-   ^(↓) 802.11 wireless has not been proven as a reliable RF solution    within a casino environment for this type of application.-   ^(↓) Will require more development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer and TITO team for Auth message handling.-   ^(↓) Will require cable pulls to both TITO system and RF access    points in the ceiling which will add time and cost to    implementation.

FIGS. 15A,B - Design #11: GE Server (or the Like) Delivers Funds

-   + Zero client may save significant cost at the kiosk level.-   + Zero client is the most effective approach for accomplishing quick    software updates/enhancements at kiosk.-   + Should require fewer resources from gaming machine manufacturer    since GE Server is delivering funds.-   ^(↓) Response time is a concern.-   ^(↓) GE server may need to reside at the casino because of funds    delivery role.-   ^(↓) The kiosk system may come under more gaming regulatory scrutiny    if GE delivers funds.-   ^(↓) 802.11 wireless has not been proven as a reliable RF solution    within a casino environment for this type of application.

FIGS. 16A,B - Design #12: GE Server (or the Like) Delivers Funds

-   + Zero client may save significant cost at the kiosk level.-   + Zero client is the most effective approach for accomplishing quick    software updates/enhancements at kiosk.-   + No wireless segment will lower cost.-   ^(↓) Response time is a concern.-   ^(↓) GE server may need to reside at the casino because of funds    delivery role.-   ^(↓) The kiosk system may come under more gaming regulatory scrutiny    if GE delivers funds.

FIGS. 17A,B - Design #13: TITO Delivers Funds and Routes Auth Messaging

-   + Zero client may save significant cost at the kiosk level.-   + Zero client is the most effective approach for accomplishing quick    software updates/enhancements at kiosk.-   + No wireless segment will lower cost.-   + End-of-bank kiosk system should incur less scrutiny from gaming    regulators because it does not deliver funds to kiosk.-   ^(↓) Response time is a concern.-   ^(↓) Will require more development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer and 1110 team for Auth message handling.

FIGS. 18A,B - Design #14: TITO System Delivers Funds

-   + Zero client may save significant cost at the kiosk level.-   + Zero client is the most effective approach for accomplishing quick    software updates/enhancements at kiosk.-   + No wireless segment will lower cost.-   ^(↓) Response time is a concern.-   ^(↓) Will require more development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer and TITO team for funds delivery.-   ^(↓) Cable pulls to both TITO system and GE server will add time and    cost to implementation.

FIGS. 19A, B - Design #15: TITO System Delivers Funds

-   + Zero client may save significant cost at the kiosk level.-   + Zero client is the most effective approach for accomplishing quick    software updates/enhancements at kiosk.-   ^(↓) Response time is a concern.-   ^(↓) Will require more development resources from gaming machine    manufacturer and TITO team of funds delivery.-   ^(↓) 802.11 wireless has not been proven as a reliable RF solution    within a casino environment for this type of application.-   ^(↓) Will require cable pulls to both TITO system and RF access    points in the ceiling which will add time and cost to    implementation.

Design functionability for the server level includes back-officesoftware that can be used for reconciliation, reporting, diagnostics andtroubleshooting, and interface to banking network. Because gamingregulation requirements vary by jurisdiction, the server topology shouldsupport two configurations relative to the GE:

-   (1) GE located at the financial processor data center; and-   (2) GE located within the casino.

FIGS. 20A-C illustrate topologies for an EOB kiosk and support system.In FIGS. 20A-C the GCA data center functions as a financial transactionmerchant.

FIG. 20D illustrates a server level implementation.

FIGS. 21-23 illustrate three preferred transaction flow options. Thesefigures are discussed in more detail below.

FIG. 21 - Transaction Flow Option A

1. Patron swipes or inserts debit/ATM card at kiosk, enters PIN andamount, confirms surcharge, and requests or declines a receipt.

2. Debit purchase request message is sent via RF (wireless) or cableconnection to financial processor system.

3. Financial processor system sends request to banking network (or newcard, casino, private label or temp card system) for debit withdrawalauthorization.

4. Banking network (or the like) approves debit withdrawal transactionand responds to financial processor system.

5. Financial processor system sends debit ticket request message to TITO(ticket-in/ticket-out) system.

6. TITO system responds to financial processor system with debit ticketauthorization message including appropriate validation data.

7. Financial processor system forwards debit ticket authorizationmessage to kiosk printer.

8. Kiosk prints a debit ticket (bar coded slot voucher) in the amount ofthe debit withdrawal request. It also prints a receipt if one wasrequested by the patron.

9. Kiosk sends a confirmation message to the financial processor systemacknowledging that the debit ticket (and receipt if one was requested)was successfully printed.

10. The financial processor system sends a confirmation message to theTITO system acknowledging that the debit ticket was successfullyprinted.

11. The patron can redeem the voucher for cash at the casino cage,cashier booth, or ticket redemption kiosk or insert it into the billacceptor of any properly equipped gaming machine.

FIG. 22 - Transaction Flow Option B

1. Patron swipes or inserts debit/ATM card at kiosk, enters PIN andamount, confirms surcharge, and requests or declines a receipt.

2. Debit purchase request message is sent via RF (wireless) or cableconnection to financial processor system.

3. Financial processor system sends a request to TITO system(ticket-in/ticket-out system) to verify that slot voucher printer ison-line and in a ‘ready state’ to print voucher.

4. TITO system verifies printer status via RF or cable connection.

5. TITO system sends message back to financial processor systemconfirming that the printer is on-line and ready.

6. Financial processor system sends request to banking network (or newcard, casino, private label or temp card system) for debit withdrawalauthorization.

7. Banking network (or the like) approves debit withdrawal transactionand responds to financial processor system.

8. Financial processor system sends authorization message to TITO systemto generate a debit ticket (bar coded slot voucher).

9. Financial processor system sends a message to kiosk to display thetext: “Transferring Your Funds.”

10. TITO system sends a message to the voucher printer to print a debitticket in the amount of the debit withdrawal request.

11. The voucher printer generates a debit ticket in the amount of thedebit withdrawal request. It also prints a receipt if one was requestedby the patron.

12. The patron can redeem the debit ticket for cash at the casino cageor cashier booth or insert it into the bill acceptor of any properlyequipped gaming machine.

FIG. 23 - Transaction Flow Option C

1. Patron swipes or inserts debit/ATM card at kiosk, enters PIN andamount, confirms surcharge, and requests or declines a receipt.

2. Debit purchase request message is sent via RF (wireless) or cableconnection to TITO system.

3. TITO system verifies printer status.

4. TITO system forwards debit withdrawal request to financial processorsystem.

5. Financial processor system sends request to banking network (or newcard, casino, private label or temp card system) for debit withdrawalauthorization.

6. Banking network (or the like) approves debit withdrawal transactionand responds to financial processor system. Financial processor systemsends authorization message to TITO system to generate a debit ticket(bar coded slot voucher).

7. TITO system sends a message to the voucher printer to print a debitticket in the amount of the debit withdrawal request.

8. The voucher printer generates a debit ticket in the amount of thedebit withdrawal request. It also prints a receipt if one was requestedby the patron.

9. The patron can redeem the debit ticket for cash at the casino cage orcashier booth or insert it into the bill acceptor of any properlyequipped gaming machine.

FIGS. 5A,B-19A,B illustrate the role of a financial transactionmerchant, including a cashless gateway and/or the requisite servers, incommunication with a new card accounting system and a casino cardaccounting system, in one embodiment. The financial transaction merchantof course may encompass the cashless gateway. The financial transactionmerchant and the cashless gateway may be illustrated separately in thefigures for the purposes of clarity, or represented by relevant servers.

FIGS. 21-23 as well as FIG. 3B also illustrate a receipt reader/scanner.The receipt reader/scanner is intended to indicate an automated methodfor reading a receipt or ticket or temporary card, or even permanentcard, which would facilitate identification and communication witheither or both of a new card accounting system and or a casino cardaccounting system.

In order to expressly exhibit a sense of social responsibility, theinstant invention includes a further feature. This feature can beincorporated into the stand-alone kiosk of the instant invention,although it can be incorporated as well into electronic funds transferequipment of a casino-based ATM or into POS/EFT equipment integratedinto and/or with a gaming or a slot machine. The invention involvesproviding a player or patron an option for selecting a “personal dailylimit” for electronic funds transfer for gaming. The patron or playermay also be provided with an option to select a time limit for the“personal daily limit” Such time limit would be a time period, such assix months, for which the player wishes the personal daily limit toapply to that card. Having selected a “personal daily limit,” theelectronic funds transfer system will not grant an electronic fundstransfer with regard to that card in a gaming establishment, or forgaming activity, to the extent that the funds for that day exceed the“personal daily limit” then in effect.

The personal daily limit could have a casino wide maximum that appliedto everyone, as well. A player-selected personal daily limit safeguardsagainst compulsive gambling in the heat of the moment with a greateramount than originally planned.

Background — EFT Cards and Accounts and House Accounts

An EFT card and account system generally involves a consumer or patron,an issuing bank or account issuer, a merchant, a transaction processornetwork and a card system architect/governor providing regulations. Aconsumer establishes an account with an issuer in a particular accountprovider’s system using a particular transaction processor network. (Amerchant has an account with a merchant bank relating to that system andreceives EFT credit therein for transactions.). Cards from differentprovider systems are run through the same EFT terminals, transactioninformation is typically added, and transactions are electronicallyforwarded for approval and processing using commercial transactionprocessors and system specific EFT networks. Transactions are governedby rules in accordance with the system established by the systemprovider of architect/governor regulations. A transaction is (or atleast can be) first approved/disapproved and then subsequentlyelectronically cleared. The consumer account is debited and the merchantaccount is credited via an electronic funds transfer (EFT,) eitherimmediately or periodically. Upon opening an account there is typicallya week to ten days wait for the card to arrive by mail. Usually anaccount cannot be used until the card has arrived and been activated.

In the gaming industry a casino agent frequently assumes the role of“merchant” for a plurality of casino and/or gaming establishments. Thisagent is frequently referred to as a merchant. This merchant is wellpositioned to collect important historical data in regard to EFT gamingtransactions. In the case of a “house” credit account, with or without acard, a merchant (which can be a casino) typically assumes many of theroles mentioned above. The merchant issues the account and card, if any,maintains the consumer account, offers the line of credit, bills andcollects. The merchant deposits in its own account when the consumerpays, typically clearing consumer checks in normal fashion. The housecard is good only at that particular merchant’s locations. The merchantis well positioned to obtain important data on the buying habits andcreditworthiness of its customers. The merchant sets the account creditlimit and can affect account transactions essentially immediately uponopening an account

Co-sponsored accounts and cards can be somewhat of a hybrid between acredit card account and a house card account. The “merchant” role andco-account issuer’s role can be assumed by a merchant or an EFT agentmerchant, which agent merchant may service many different establishmentmerchants. This merchant may also assume some of the roles of theprovider of system architect/governor regulations. A commercial systemprovider may be utilized as a co-account issuer so that an EFT cardprovided would be useable on terminals for general purpose EFT cards andwould be processable by commercial transaction processors such asMasterCard. A merchant might also provide at least in part an electronicnetwork for use for transactions, particularly transactions immediatelyupon opening an account.

A gaming oriented credit card and account could be utilized for any“credit card” purchase. However, the system will likely be structuredwith a gaming transaction as the paradigmatic transaction. In this case“cash advance for gaming” may be the paradigmatic transaction. The“transaction costs” of the instant system may be structured to be bornein specific gaming oriented ways. In at least some embodiments thesystem might limit non-cash advance purchases, or non-gaming orientedtransactions, in particular by the transaction cost system, or by theuse of multiple credit limits and/or multiple cash advance limits,depending on the type of transaction.

The preferred gaming oriented credit card account is tailored to be usedin, and to be efficient for, the gaming environment. Such gamingaccounts preferably have a cash advance limit commensurate with theircredit limit. The cash advance limit and/or credit limit would typicallybe based on EFT gaming transaction history, preferably including the EFTgaming transaction history of the particular patron.

In such a system the risk of loss through granting credit for gamingshould be minimized while the capacity to reasonably access funds oncredit should be maximized. Limiting the capacity to use the account fornon-gaming oriented goods and services would reflect a realisticlimitation, given the transaction cost structure set in place.

Typically, a gaming oriented account card would be associated with a PINor the like. A PIN or the like is some system, now known or adopted inthe future, by which the account owner identifies himself or herself inaddition to, or other than, simply possessing and presenting a card.

To summarize, the preferred gaming oriented credit card account iscreated particularly for use in gaming, although not solely. The accountis associated with a credit card. The credit card is processable througha general purpose credit/debit card terminals. The account is usable invariably owned gaming establishments. It is not limited to oneparticular gaming house, even if that house has a plurality oflocations. The cash advance limit is commensurate with the credit limitof the account, at least for gaming oriented transaction, and ispreferably based on a prior history of EFT gaming transaction.Preferably, this prior history would be a prior history of the accountopener and/or owner. Importantly, as in a house card, or otherco-sponsored cards, credit is preferably available essentiallyimmediately upon opening a new gaming account in appropriatecircumstances. The information upon which an immediate transactionsecures an approval/disapproval and upon which a subsequent electronicclearing of an immediate use of the account can be based can come from atemporary card or voucher or receipt or the like, or can be handentered, as by numbers or a PIN or words.

Especially playing the role of gaming oriented account issuer andmerchant, the account issuer is well positioned to issue a patronselection card and to reward a selection coded card account user. Theaccount issuer is in position to offer selection code oriented rewards(spa time, golf time) upon presentation of the card, including even cashat cash dispensing terminals and casino cages.

FIGS. 26A-D illustrate the front and backsides of one embodiment of afemale-type and male-type coded patron selection card.

FIG. 25 illustrates a preferred embodiment of an auto-roll system toestablish a credit line, preferably after receiving a decline from acard issuing bank. In the first step a patron makes a request for a cashadvance or quasi cash transaction using a general purpose credit card.Typically this would be 30 at an automated station that is customeractivated, the station having a POS device or PC interface. Step twoindicates that a bank card issuer declines the transaction. Typically,this is because an arbitrary cash advance limit has been exceeded, thecash advance limit not having been targeted to the gaming environment.The third step comprises an auto-roll prompt to give a customer anoption to establish a new gaming-oriented credit line. Preferably theaccount issuer or co-issuer will be the merchant, an entity standing inthe shoes of the casino as merchant. The auto-roll query or prompt ispreferably stimulated at the automated station when a customer receivesa transaction decline, but it could come first.

In the fourth step, if the customer chooses to apply for a new creditline, a user interface prompts the customer to enter credit related datasuch as social security number, date of birth, address, etc. Preferablyan account issuer or co-issuer, standing in the shoes of the casino asmerchant, has access to detailed EFT gaming transaction history,including information on the customer. This detailed EFT gamingtransaction history becomes an indicator as to the appropriateness andresponsibleness of issuing a new credit card with a cash advance limitcommensurate with its credit limit, and what that limit should be. Thenew credit line, of course, could also be a casino in-house line ofcredit. The casino credit line will be approved by the casino since itis the casino that bears the risk.

In step five, based on this information, a new credit line isestablished. Means will be put in place such that the customer can nowdraw on the line to get money, at least at the casino or where theaccount issuer or co co-issuer is also merchant or master merchant ofthe transaction, preferably almost immediately. The customer might use atemporary card together with a PIN and/or an extra password or numberand/or a paper receipt or scannable voucher or the like in order tobegin to immediately utilize the credit line.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention ispresented for purposes of illustration and description, and is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formor embodiment disclosed. The description was selected to best explainthe principles of the invention and their practical application toenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention invarious embodiments. Various modifications as are best suited to theparticular use are contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention is not to be limited by the specification, but to be definedby the claims set forth below. Since the foregoing disclosure anddescription of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof,various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated device may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention. The invention is claimed using terminology thatdepends upon a historic presumption that recitation of a single elementcovers one or more, and recitation of two elements covers two or more,and the like. Also, the drawings and illustration herein have notnecessarily been produced to scale.

1. A method of providing funds to a player at a casino gaming tablecomprising the steps of: transmitting, from a table client located atsaid gaming table, said client comprising a processor, a card reader anda communication interface and a voucher printer, said table clientconfigured to read a financial card of a player, a request for anapproval of a funds transaction of an amount of funds from a financialaccount associated with said financial card presented to said tableclient by said player; receiving, at a financial transaction merchantsystem in communication with said table client and an external financialnetwork, said financial transaction merchant system comprising at leasta financial transaction merchant server comprising a processor, a memoryand machine-readable code stored in said memory and configured to causesaid financial transaction merchant server, said request from said tableclient; transmitting, from said financial transaction merchant system, arequest for authorization of said funds transaction to said externalfinancial network; transmitting, from said financial transactionmerchant server upon approval of said request from said externalfinancial network, a voucher request to a voucher system server of acasino voucher system; generating, by said voucher system server, avoucher representing said amount of funds in response to receipt of saidvoucher request; storing, in a database associated with said casinovoucher system, information regarding said voucher, including saidamount of funds; transmitting, from said casino voucher system, avoucher-issuance instruction to said voucher printer; printing, by saidvoucher printer, in response to said instruction, said voucher at saidtable, said voucher representing funds which said player may use to fundgaming.
 2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said financialtransaction merchant server communicates with said casino voucher systemvia a communications server.
 3. The method in accordance with claim 1wherein said financial transaction merchant server transmits saidvoucher request to said voucher system server via said communicationsserver.
 4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said requestfrom said table client is provided to said financial transactionmerchant server by said communications server.
 5. The method inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said financial transaction merchantserver communicates with said external financial network via a cashlessgateway.
 6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said externalfinancial network comprises a banking network.
 7. The method inaccordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving, at agaming machine, said voucher for redemption.
 8. The method in accordancewith claim 1 further comprising the step of issuing monetary valuegaming chips to said player in exchange for said voucher.
 9. The methodin accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of receivingsaid voucher from said player, reading said voucher via a reader,transmitting information regarding said voucher to said casino vouchersystem, and validating said voucher at said casino voucher system withreference to said information about said voucher stored in said databaseof said casino voucher system.
 10. The method in accordance with claim 1wherein said communication interface of said table client is a wirelesscommunication interface.
 11. The method in accordance with claim 1,further comprising the step of reading said player’s financial card withsaid card reader of said table client.
 12. The method in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said financial card is one or more of a debit card, ATMcard, credit card and stored value card.
 13. A method of providing fundsto a player at a casino gaming table comprising the steps of:transmitting, from a table client located at said gaming table, saidclient comprising a processor, a card reader and a communicationinterface and a voucher printer, said table client configured to read afinancial card of a player, a request for an approval of a fundstransaction of an amount of funds from a financial account associatedwith said financial card presented to said table client by said player;receiving, at a financial transaction merchant system in communicationwith said table client and an external financial network, said financialtransaction merchant system comprising at least a financial transactionmerchant server comprising a processor, a memory and machine-readablecode stored in said memory and configured to cause said financialtransaction merchant server, said request from said table client;transmitting, from said financial transaction merchant system, a requestfor authorization of said funds transaction to said external financialnetwork; transmitting, from said financial transaction merchant serverupon approval of said request from said external financial network, avoucher request to a voucher system server of a casino voucher system;printing, by said voucher printer, in response to receipt of avoucher-issuance instruction from said casino voucher system, saidvoucher at said table, said voucher representing funds which said playermay use to fund gaming.
 14. The method in accordance with claim 13,further comprising the step of receiving, at a voucher reader associatedwith said table client, said voucher from said player for redemption,and transmitting from said table client to said casino voucher system arequest for validation of said voucher.
 15. The method in accordancewith claim 14, further comprising the step of issuing monetary valuechips to said player in the amount of said funds represented by saidvoucher in response to validation of said voucher.
 16. The method inaccordance with claim 14, wherein said voucher reader comprises ascanner.
 17. The method in accordance with claim 13, further comprisingthe step of receiving, at said card reader of said table client, saidfinancial card of said player.
 18. The method in accordance with claim13, wherein said table client comprises a point of sale device.